"All too often, as we know from experience, people do not choose life, they do not accept the 'Gospel of Life' but let themselves be led by ideologies and ways of thinking that block life, that do not respect life, because they are dictated by selfishness, self-interest, profit, power and pleasure, and not by love, by concern for the good of others" -Pope Francis
This is a blog that has been on my mind to write for a while, and with every passing day I see mainstream media articles that urge me more and more to publish this blog. So I dusted the blog off and I present you with an assessment of the biggest problem in our world today.
I truly believe that our problem is not our lack of belief in equality for all poeple, it's not that we are racist, it's not that we need gun control, it's not that we need more regulation of personal freedoms, it's not that we need more transparency from our government. These are all cover sheets for the bigger issue at hand; that being that we have no respect for the sanctity of life.
When we are selfish enough to think that someone else's life, viability, or sustainability is of lesser worth than our own, we fall into the trap of being hate-filled, controlling, prideful people.
As a Christian, it is my own personal conviction that I am to respect the lives of other people and to protect the right to and the quality of life at all costs. I do not expect you to hold the same convictions, but imagine a world where selfish, neurotic people did not exist but the power of love was able to span all genders, races, nationalities, walks of life. How different would our world be? I am not blinded enough to think that all Christians adhere to this standard, nor am I naive enough to think you need to be under the Christian umbrella to have this conviction.
I've often heard the phrase "Respect is earned" but I highly disagree with this, and suggest that respect should be given, and should be taken away only when someone violates that trust. Even then, respect the sanctity of their God-given life whether you respect that persons integrity or not.
I ask you to imagine all the heartbreak, betrayal, tragedy, and disappointment you have come across in the last few months. Now imagine those situation if those who hurt had cared, had lifted out a helping hand, had respected that their opinion, their motives, their actions might decrease someone else's quality of life or their right to life all together. I ask again, how different would our world be?
Now that you've read my blueprint for a purely utopian society, tell me why we can't make small strides to move towards that together and with the utmost respect for one another's lives.
I think the challenge is clear here. Examine the deepest parts of your soul, and pay careful attention to your own actions and motives behind those actions. Change if necessary. Respect the sanctity of life. Because in all seriousness, #YOLO.
